Officials investigating illegal elk hunting in Lincoln County

Oregon State Police troopers found more than 400 pounds of wasted elk meat in rural Lincoln County this morning and are looking for the person responsible.

Troopers discovered seven elk carcasses and eight bags of scrap meat near the junction of Burnt Woods Forest Road and Burnt Woods Ridge Road, said OSP Trooper Heather Van Meter. They suspect the elk were killed during the first rifle coast bull elk season and dumped over the weekend.

Officials have also offered a $3,000 for information about an incident earlier this month where a bull elk was shot and left to waste on the Starker Forest Stutz Tree Farm, also in the Burnt Woods area, said OSP Senior Trooper Ryan Kehr.

That elk was discovered the morning of Nov. 3 and was shot the night before.

Investigators ask anyone with information about the cases to call the OSP poacher tip line at 800-452-7888, email Van Meter or call Kehr at 541-270-0097.